Toddlers and parents everywhere will recognize Small Rabbit's lack of enthusiasm as the story opens. He just doesn't want to go for a walk and he comes up with all sorts of excuses to stay indoors. But Big Rabbit is having none of it. She bundles him into his coat and out they go, with Small Rabbit shivering and grumbling as he shuffles along. Perhaps it's because he's too far behind Big Rabbit, perhaps it's because the wind is howling, but when Big Rabbit says, 'Try to keep up!' what Small Rabbit hears is 'Jump in the mud!' And so he does. In fact everything Big Rabbit says-thanks to the wind-turns from a rather humdrum instruction into something much more exciting and Small Rabbit finds himself having a really wild time. Becoming muddier by the moment, and causing more and more mayhem, Small Rabbit romps ahead. Big Rabbit's last instruction, as Small Rabbit bounds home to their burrow is, 'Please don't go inside!' (she's worried about muddy footprints and leaves all over her lovely clean burrow). But Small Rabbit thinks she's asking him to find somewhere to hide and the story ends with a resounding 'Boo!' from Small Rabbit as he jumps from his hiding place into Big Rabbit's arms, declaring 'Windy walks are lots of fun!'

Author Biography

Sheryl Webster for OUP: Wee William Sheryl Webster lives in Liverpool with her husband Phil and three children. She is also expecting her fourth child. Having completed a degree in English and Psychology she enjoyed working as a primary school teacher before taking a career break to bring up her young family. This also allowed more time for writing. As a child, Sheryl loved reading Enid Blyton and she now admires the work of Julia Donaldson. Her children provide the inspiration and ideas for her writing. What Small Rabbit Heard was written following a very windy walk with her family and some humorous exchanges as they struggled to hear each other! Sheryl is also published by Little Tiger Press and Andersen Press. Tim Warnes for OUP: Oh, Boris! Award-winning illustrator Tim Warnes shares a studio at his home in the Dorset countryside with his wife, illustrator Jane Chapman. They have two young sons. Tim is best known for illustrating the Little Tiger and Santa books for Little Tiger Press. I Don't Want to go to Bed! won the Nottinghamshire Children's Book Award in 1996 and I Don't want to have a Bath! won in 1997. Scaredy Mouse was commended in the Sheffield Children's Book Awards 2003.